there you go:).

We gotta do something in our "off" time. I don't golf, hunt or run around and I do the engineering thing for hire:).

I have changed more than one chain and have never followed the book using the dial indicator method although I do own one (dial indicator and the manual). I just change em when I see 7 degrees+ worth of stretch. I would not change it with less than that amount of stretch unless some visual inspection indicated there may be other issues (a severely worn chain tensioner guide rail comes to mind). Then I would more than likely change the guides too.

Sooooooo to sum it up I guess it all goes back to being tied into the infamous oil change interval:eek::cool: and leathermang is correct in his summation of the manual instructions and 240Joe is correct in his "quick way" of checking stretch.

Good, why not try my method first because if you have less than 5 degrees of stretch, you don't need to bother doing anything else...you are done.

I can't really answer the question about what field...sorry.

240Joe

Wow, I had not thought of that.... People turning keeping their old cars into a HOBBY..... when they could be out at the bars picking up girlfriends and trying to keep it from the wife.... and the money spent on tools.... wasted beer money for sure !!!
I really hope I have not encouraged anyone to use their time in such a wasted fashion as fixing their own stuff in their own tool filled garage using their own copies of the Mercedes Shop manuals....
What a bad influence I may have been to some unsuspecting potential alcoholic womanizers..... I am glad Clinton was not influenced by someone like me in his youth....

LOL:D

"I can't really answer the question about what field...sorry."

That is truely amazing....

"why not try my method first "
BECAUSE THE FACTORY SHOP MANUAL SPECIFIES THE OTHER METHOD.... LOL

Engatwork, whatever you do, please don't send this thread to the corn field of threads. I don't want it to suffer the same fate the oil change thread did. ;)

If I didn't use my tools to work on my car hobbies do you think I could use them as musical instruments? They make the nicest sounds when I drop them.:D

I won't unless things turn violent:D:eek: which I don't suspect they will - lol.

Do us all a big favor - remove the valve cover, line the marks up on the cam up and tell us what degress the crank indicator is showing and report back. You shouldn't even need the wife to help do this:). Make sure you have a really bright flash light to look at the crank markings. You do not want to be in error in what you report back:eek:.

Will do. I doubt that I'll do it tonight. I give it a shot tomorrow if I don't get swamped with honeydo's.

Ok, I posted something that might have gotten sent to the corn field, so I thought again and deleted it.

lietuviai, take a peek here

One other thing. ONLY turn the engine clockwise as looking at it from the front and use the correct socket wrench on the crank bolt:).

Good shot Rick.

"They make the nicest sounds when I drop them"

Naturally this reminds me of another expensive ($2) tool to recommend.... when you are under the car it is really nice to wear goggles..... the smallest piece of rust... if it lands on your actual eyeball sticks like glue.... two emergency trips to the eye doctor taught me this....My excuse for it taking two trips ? I live in a hot climate where the goggles fog up like mad.... use the antifog liquid made for underwater goggles....

and the other thing.... don't smile while you are under the car... keep your lips together.... if you drop a socket or wrench on your mouth you may hurt your lip... but much less chance of chipping a tooth... and while you may smile while reading this.... I am NOT kidding about this....

I am just FULL of good information.... I just wish I had not acquired some of it the hard way....

Dangit. Now every time I get under a car I will have to fight back a smile thinking about you. :D

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Looks like many lessons are learned in the school of hard knocks.:D
I fully understand the importance of good eye protection while working on a car or for that matter any circumstance that has potential for eye injury. I'm getting my degree in ophthalmic medical technology in June.